Uttarakhand News: President Draupadi Murmu honored the gold medal winning students at the second convocation ceremony of Patanjali University, Haridwar. A total of 1454 students were awarded degrees in this program organized on Sunday. 62 scholars were awarded Vidya Varidhi degree and 3 scholars were awarded Vidya Vachaspati degree, while 615 students were awarded Master’s degree and 774 students were awarded Bachelor’s degree. On this occasion, Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (Retd.) also presented copies of two books ‘Flora of Rashtrapati Bhavan’ and ‘Medicinal Plants of Rashtrapati Bhavan’ based on the diverse flora of Rashtrapati Bhavan to the President.
President Draupadi Murmu congratulated and blessed all the students who received the degrees. While appreciating the students who received medals, he said that the teachers and parents who contribute in the life-building of the students should also be specially congratulated. He expressed happiness that 64 percent of the students receiving degrees this year are daughters and the number of girl students receiving medals is four times more than that of boys. He said that this achievement is a reflection of the nature of developed India in which women are playing leadership roles.
The President said that Patanjali University is making the tradition of penance, sadhana and knowledge of Maharishi Patanjali accessible to the modern society. The University is making significant contribution in building a healthy India through education and research in the field of Yoga, Ayurveda and Naturopathy. Praising the India-centric education vision of the university, he said that it has characteristics like the spirit of world brotherhood, coordination of Vedic knowledge and modern scientific approach and solutions to global challenges. He called upon the students to adopt life values based on the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
The President said that the aim of education is not only to acquire knowledge, but also to imbibe life values like morality, penance, simplicity and devotion to duty. He urged the students to play an active role not only in self-development but also in nation-building. Highlighting the cultural importance of Haridwar situated on the banks of Ganga, the President said that this holy place is a confluence of knowledge and spirituality. He expressed confidence that the students of Patanjali University will contribute in building a healthy, cultured and harmonious society by following ideals like self-study and penance.
Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (Retd.) extended a hearty welcome and felicitation to President Smt. Draupadi Murmu and termed her arrival at Devbhoomi as a moment of pride. The Governor said that Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is not just a state but is the life center of Yoga, Ayurveda and spirituality. The tradition of Yoga and Ayurveda prevalent from this holy land has given the message of health, balance and harmony not only to India but to the entire world. This sage tradition of Uttarakhand still inspires us that the supreme aim of knowledge is not just self-development but world welfare.
The Governor extended his hearty congratulations to all the students receiving the degrees and expressed hope that they would successfully face the challenges that lie ahead after the convocation. He said that the students receiving degrees today will live up to the expectations of their nation, state and society and will use their education, talent and training for human welfare.
The Governor said that the knowledge acquired by our sages was not only for us but for the welfare of the entire universe. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave a global platform to the thousands of years of work done on the science of Yoga by getting International Yoga Day approved in the United Nations. In the last few years, there has been a big revolution in the field of health through Yoga and Ayurveda, and today crores of people are getting health benefits through them.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed President Mrs. Draupadi Murmu on behalf of the 1.25 crore godlike people of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. He said that President Smt. Draupadi Murmu has always worked for the empowerment of the deprived, exploited and backward sections of the society by giving priority to the welfare of the person standing in the last line. Recently, when he flew in the fighter aircraft ‘Rafale’, the entire country saw an inspiring example of his indomitable courage, patriotism and determination. Her personality contains a wonderful combination of motherly love, determination to serve and unwavering dedication towards the nation. The Chief Minister said that it is the good fortune of all of us people of Uttarakhand that on this historic occasion of completion of 25 years of the establishment of the state, we have received the company and guidance of the President.
The Chief Minister expected the students who received degrees in the convocation ceremony to use their knowledge and skills to play an important role in their better future as well as the happiness, prosperity of their families and the welfare of the society. He said that under the guidance of Swami Ramdev, Patanjali University is doing an incomparable job of connecting modern education with Indian values and traditions. Here a wonderful confluence of science and spirituality can be seen, where students get education not only about knowledge but also about Indian values of life. Patanjali University has developed such an education system by coordinating modern science and Indian knowledge tradition, which is working to integrate Yoga, Ayurveda, science and technology.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is making many innovations under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the implementation of National Education Policy-2020 in the state, initiatives have been taken to conduct courses like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Big Data in the universities and research institutes of the state. ‘Center for Hindu Studies’ has also been established in Doon University for in-depth study of Indian culture, philosophy and history. Scientific research is also being encouraged in the state through the construction of Science City in Dehradun, Astro Park in Haldwani and Science Center in Almora.
Patanjali University Haridwar Chancellor Swami Ramdev, Vice Chancellor Acharya Balkrishna, MP Trivendra Singh Rawat, Dr. Kalpana Saini and other dignitaries were present in the program.